The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.

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English

Revision history:

2005-11-18, Sarah Ficke finished TEI/XML encoding.

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Title of document: Letter from David L. Swain to Parent, September 27,
1853 [Containing Rules Concerning the Abuse
of Liquor and Rules to Control Students' Debts]

Author: David L. Swain

Description: 2 pages, 2 page images

Note:
Call number VCp378 UA1 (North Carolina Collection,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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Letter from David L. Swain to Parent, September 27, 1853 [Containing Rules Concerning the Abuse
of Liquor and Rules to Control Students' Debts]

University of North Carolina (1793-1962). PresidentSwain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868

Page 1

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

CHAPEL
HILL, September 27, 1853.

SIR,

The secluded situation of this place is not without disadvantages, but they are
believed to be more than counterbalanced by the safeguards which the Legislature
and the Trustees have been thereby enabled to throw around us. Extensive
enquiry, long experience, and personal examination, have left no doubt on the
mind of any one of us, that our location was, on the whole, happily chosen.

To maintain a tippling-house within two miles of the University, or
to sell within that distance, wine, ardent spirits, or malt liquors, to be used
by a Student, without the consent of the Faculty, is an indictable offence.
Gaming, horse-racing, and other kindred practices, within four miles, are
prohibited in like manner. To give full sanction and efficiency to the
provisions of the criminal law, the Trustees have ordained, that any Student who may
be seen publicly intoxicated, or in whose room ardent spirits may be found,
shall be forthwith suspended or dismissed, as the circumstances of the case may
seem to require. This ordinance has been and will be faithfully carried into
execution in every instance of its violation.

Extravagant habits ordinarily tend to the hindrance of all improvement,
intellectual and moral; and the deleterious effect is by no means confined to
the individual who is the subject of them. It is impossible to preserve young
men in all cases from indiscretions of this character. So carefully have these
evils been guarded against, however, that no parent can suffer from them, who is
faithful to the college, the community, his son, or himself. The Rev. ELISHA MITCHELL, D.
D., is Bursar of the Institution. It is his duty to receive all sums
of money that young men bring with them, to "disburse the same in
paying their board, tuition fees, college dues, and other necessary
expenses"—"to keep an account of the money thus
received and disbursed and at the close of each session to transmit a copy of
such account to the parent or guardian of each Student."

The Revised Statutes "concerning the University," (chap. 116,) make it "unlawful for any
merchant, shopkeeper, or other person at Chapel Hill, or within two miles thereof, to sell to
any Student of the University, goods, wares, or merchandise, without
the consent of the Faculty, or some member thereof, in writing." Any
contract for the sale of such article is "null and void, and no
recovery can be had thereon." The parent is consequently absolved from
all obligation to pay an account thus created, and it is very clear that a
guardian cannot discharge such a claim, without rendering himself liable to the
estate of his ward for the amount.

To ensure the due observance of these regulations, I have to
request that you will immediately advise the Bursar whether you are willing
that any account shall be opened here in your name, and if so, the amount of
indebtedness you are willing to authorise.

Page 2

Each Senior is required to attend Prayers thirteen times, Recitations fourteen
times, and Divine Worship once each week. All absences, whether unavoidable or
not, are recorded. A very simple calculation, therefore, will enable you to
ascertain the precise portion of duties performed and omitted.

During the half session, which closed on Friday evening last, (a period of ten
weeks,) Mr.
R. H. Battle has been absent from Prayers [zero] times, from Recitations [zero] times, and from
attendance on Divine Worship [zero] times— [zero] of these absences, [zero] from Prayers,
[zero] from Recitation, and [zero] from Divine Worship, were unavoidable.

With respect to the necessary expenses of a Student, the Faculty concur entirely
in the opinion expressed by the Executive Committee, in the
Circular addressed to Parents and Guardians on the 15th of April, 1837, that
exclusive of the supplies of clothing ordinarily obtained from home, more than
two hundred and fifty dollars a year is not necessary either to the comfort or
reputation of any one.